The real church is in the wilderness

The Real Church is in the Wilderness

by: Andrew S.K. Grant

3The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Isaiah 40

Thanks to media, lies, false doctrines, the numerous denominations, and opinions and reasoning’s, scripture has again been fulfilled right in front our faces and few actually see it. The church as most think of it is not the Church, some church assemblies would tell you the truth and be blunt stating that everyone you see in their building is not part of the Real Church. In fact very, very few people are. The true Church are those who have come out the world and are living in obedience to the Holy Spirit, they are over comers, they have given up their lives and have now chosen to live in the Spirit with Jesus as their complete LORD (mind, body and soul). Many would agree and say this is them, but if one is still practicing sin, seeking for treasures and things of this world, their own ambitions and loving the things and entertainment of this world, that statement is a lie (1 John 2:3-6) . As we will soon see the Church has nothing to do with this world, satan has lied and deceived many into mixing with the system of spiritual Babylon.

1In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.3For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
Matthew 3

John the Baptist was in the wilderness preparing the way of the LORD, he came in the Spirit of Elijah (Malachi 4:5-6, Matthew 11:14). Jesus came and then left and is coming again, do you know what this means? This means there again will be voices in the wilderness preparing the way for the LORD. In fact this is where the sheep are gathered:

4What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
Luke 15

Everyone in John’s time had to go to the wilderness to be baptized under the baptism of repentance. Now we spiritually go to the wilderness to be baptized by Jesus. Anyone can be baptized by water in any church building, but spiritually, in your heart you must be in a right place to receive Jesus baptism where He makes His home in you (see the note on “Have You Really Received the Holy Ghost”), and you have to stay there, most do not and shrink back to the old man, they return to the city of Babylon. Jesus said John the Baptist was greatest among men born of a women BUT the least in the Kingdom (the Church) will be greater than John (Luke 7:28). What does that say about the Church and our role today? We will get to this.

The wilderness right now is not just physically (many are physically being persecuted) but also a spiritual location. Being separated from this world and it’s system and the things in it. Many Christians (especially in North America) are rich with the things of this world and are fat on the foods (entertainment) it offers and still live out the patterns and the lies and deceptions it offers even with in the walls of “church” assembly buildings. But this is not where you find the true Church this is not where you find Jesus. For where Jesus is His servant is there also. Jesus is calling His sheep out of the city and into the wilderness. Amazingly even in the days of His flesh He spent a lot of time in the wilderness Himself, the miracle where he multiplied the bread was done in the wilderness and especially after they sought to kill Him He was closer to the wilderness and His disciples with Him (John 11:53-54).

“26If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.”
John 12

One of the biggest lies that the enemy has fed Christians to keep them lukewarm and partly in the city is a lie called a “balanced spiritual life”. This teaches that we should be good Christians and try our best to obey Jesus but also balance our secular life, still enjoy some of the things of this world, not be to zealous or “rigid” (truth is righteous people are not popular and do not have many fans: Romans 5:7). This at face value seems very reasonable and almost innocent. However lets look at the Balance Jesus set up for us:

23And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. 25For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?
Luke 9

26If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14

61And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. 62And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
Luke 9

19Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:21For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Matthew 6

And the ultimate:

33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Matthew 6

Jesus is the balance we give up EVERYTHING and follow Him, He provides everything else. Did you know Jesus did not have a place to live, and told the rich ruler if he wanted to be PERFECT sell everything give to the poor and follow Him…? Salvation is not free, nor is it cheap, it costs you EVERYTHING. He strips us (clothes us) and takes us into the wilderness so we do not partake of the sins of the world (the city). Many Christians are still in the city with filthy garments and most (of the few) will not be running out until persecution increases (Revelation 12:6,13,17). Many are still in the city and enjoying the pleasures of that city, or are on the fence struggling, because they still believe the lies they have been fed to keep them there.

4And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
Revelation 18

Many who know the name of Jesus are still in the world, still partaking of the things that non-believers (sinners) partake of, still entertaining themselves with the things sinners entertain themselves with (and sinners create). Many Christians who profess the name still truthfully love the world and the things in it just the same as those who don’t know God. This is why many have this desire to “balance” their life with the things of this world rather than leaving all and following Jesus. It’s really a matter of choosing to be sold out and faith/trust in God. Do you believe God and trust Him to provide and keep you? God’s will is first that means your job, school or anything that you have in this world is for the glory of God and leading people to Him, not for our selves and our own pleasure or survival. We no longer even need to worry about where are meals come from. This is what it means to be in the wilderness. It’s when all has been forsaken for Jesus, He provides and feeds and you spend your time using your voice to cry out and prepare the way for Him. But how can one cry out the call of repentance if you yourself are still in need of deliverance from sin or worse yet have never met Jesus, only know of Him? Yet trying to balance your spiritual life with secular??? The devil is a liar.

The Church is not here to enjoy the pleasures of this life. The Church is here to warn and bring people to Jesus so His body will grow and expand, then when He returns and we are glorified we rule with Him in His kingdom (what we call a government). YES the Church is actually the next ruling Body, Jesus Kingdom is going to destroy all the current Kingdoms and rule forever. We will be rulers of the New World with Jesus (We are joint heirs). Read Psalms 149, it’s us who will be putting shackles on the kings of this world, how can we be ready to do this if we are still living and loving the things the ungodly people love and do and will be punished for? The Church has nothing to do with this fading world because we will be rulers and judges in the world to come in glorified bodies and forever in the presence of our Creator. This is why we are in the wilderness now, this is why we are outcasts now, this is why we are not enticed or entangled in this worlds system. We are not of this world therefore have no need to balance with it.

The building you go to every Sunday is not the Church nor is it the wilderness. If you are still practicing sin and enjoying the things of this world (especially the deception of entertainment) you need to seek Jesus, otherwise on that day you will hear I never knew you depart from me you evil doer, and on top of that a Christian you may know puts shackles on you and carries you off to outer darkness with the rest of the hypocrites of the Children of the Kingdom…. It’s time to search, chase and seek after the REAL Jesus and come to know Him yourself and gather with the flock in the wilderness. If your waiting for the right time or a sign. Now is that time and this is your sign.

Where are you? Where He is, his servant is also…. Where He is, there is no sin or hypocrisy (1 John 3:6-9).

Come out of her… do not partake in her sins, get delivered from yours.

May God continue to bless and keep you in Jesus Mighty Name.

Andrew S. K. Grant’s website is “Jesus is the Truth”

http://www.onthesideoftruth.com/the-real-church-is-in-the-wildrness.html